Council may ban city workers from government boards

NEW BEDFORD — The City Council on Thursday night proposed creating a city ordinance that would prohibit city employees from serving on city boards or commissions.

CHARIS ANDERSON

NEW BEDFORD — The City Council on Thursday night proposed creating a city ordinance that would prohibit city employees from serving on city boards or commissions.

The matter was referred to the council's Committee on Ordinances.

"It puts them in a bad position," said Ward 5 Councilor Jane Gonsalves, who co-sponsored the motion with Ward 1 Councilor Linda Morad.

According to Gonsalves, there have been a couple decisions made recently by boards or commissions with city employees as members that had the appearance of improprieties.

"Fairhaven Mills is a very public example of that," she said.

In March, the city's Historical Commission voted that Fairhaven Mills Building 4 was historically significant but was not preferably preserved.

Of the four people who voted that the building was not preferably preserved, two work for the city — David Kennedy, the city planner; and Anne Louro, the city preservation planner — and one, Derek Santos, works for the New Bedford Economic Development Council.

Gonsalves said she understands that state statutes require some city employees to serve on city boards, but in other situations this proposed ordinance could help clear up the appearance of impropriety.

The city solicitor's office once conducted training sessions with members of city boards and commissions on state ethics laws, according to Gonsalves, who said she is not sure if those sessions are still happening.

"They need to step (the training) up because there are so many violations I am seeing that concern me," said Gonsalves.

According to David Gerwatowski, the council's attorney, state ethics laws would address some conflicts city employees serving on city boards might face, but the council is free to draft the proposed ordinance.

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